Osteospermum plant named &#39;SUNOST1501&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘SUNOST1501’, characterized by its compact, broadly upright and mounding plant habit; freely branching growth habit; freely flowering habit; large daisy-type inflorescences with orange red-colored ray florets that are purple in color towards the base; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNOST1501’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY RELATED APPLICATIONS:

Title: Osteospermum Plant Named ‘SUNOST1502’

Applicant: Bjarne Nyholm Larsen

Filed: Dec. 31, 2015

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘SUNOST1501’.

The new Osteospermum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Odense, Denmark. The objective of the program is to create and develop new Osteospermum plants with compact and uniformly mounded plant habit, freely flowering habit and attractive ray and disc floret coloration.

The new Osteospermum plant originated from a cross-pollination by the Inventor in May, 2011 of Osteospermum ecklonis ‘SUNOST1103’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,450, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number 09.20.023, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Osteospermum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Odense, Denmark in June, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Osteospermum plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Odense, Denmark since September, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Osteospermum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Osteospermum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SUNOST1501’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SUNOST1501’ as a new and distinct Osteospermum plant:

-   -   1. Compact, broadly upright and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching growth habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Large daisy-type inflorescences with orange red-colored ray         florets that are purple in color towards the base.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘SUNOST1103’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum are more compact than plants         of ‘SUNOST1103’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Osteospermum are smaller and         darker green in color than leaves of plants of ‘SUNOST1103’.     -   3. Plants of the new Osteospermum and ‘SUNOST1103’ differ in ray         floret color as plants of ‘SUNOST1103’ have purple-colored ray         florets.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum have smaller leaves than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum and the male parent selection         differ in ray floret color as plants of the male parent         selection have dusty orange-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Osteospermum can be compared to plants of the Osteospermum ecklonis ‘SUNOST1502’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Odense, Denmark, plants of the new Osteospermum differed from plants of ‘SUNOST1502’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum were not as upright as plants         of ‘SUNOST1502’.     -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum and ‘SUNOST1502’ differed in         ray floret color as plants of ‘SUNOST1502’ had dark orange         red-colored ray florets with that are dark red in color towards         the base.

Plants of the new Osteospermum can also be compared to plants of the Osteospermum ecklonis ‘SUNOST1102’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Patent No. 24,161. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Odense, Denmark, plants of the new Osteospermum differed from plants of ‘SUNOST1102’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum had smaller leaves than plants         of ‘SUNOST1102’.     -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum and ‘SUNOST1102’ differed in         ray floret color as plants of ‘SUNOST1102’ had greyed         purple-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Osteospermum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Osteospermum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘SUNOST1501’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘SUNOST1501’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in 11-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Odense, Denmark and under cultural practices typical of commercial Osteospermum production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 20° C. and night temperatures averaged 14° C. Plants were pinched one time and were 14 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis ‘SUNOST1501 ’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Osteospermum ecklonis ‘SUNOST1103’             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,450.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number 09.20.023,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at             temperatures about 18° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 14 days at             temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 20 days at             temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 28 days at             temperatures about 18° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             whitish in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, broadly upright and             mounding plant habit; inflorescences positioned above and             beyond the foliar plane on strong peduncles; moderately             vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 20.9 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 23.4 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: Freely branching habit             with about four primary branches developing per plant, each             primary branch with about four secondary branches; pinching             enhances branching potential. Length: About 7 cm. Diameter:             About 4 mm. Internode length: About 5 mm. Strength: Strong.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.             Color: Close to 144A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple; sessile.             Length: About 6.7 cm. Width: About 3.6 cm. Shape: Obovate to             roughly spatulate. Apex: Broad and blunt acute. Base: Long             attenuate. Margin: Irregularly and coarsely crenate. Texture             and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous except along             margins, pubescent; moderately glossy. Texture and luster,             lower surface: Pubescent; slightly glossy. Venation pattern:             Pinnate, arcuate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface:             Close to between 137A and 143A. Developing leaves, lower             surface: Close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: Close to N137B; venation, close to 144B. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to between 146B and             147B; venation, close to 144B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescence form with             oblanceolate-shaped ray florets; inflorescences terminal and             axillary and positioned above and beyond the foliar plane on             strong peduncles; disc and ray florets developing             acropetally on a capitulum; inflorescences face mostly             upright.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 36             inflorescences developing per plant.         -   Fragrance.—Faint, moderately sweet with hint of chocolate.         -   Flowering response.—In Denmark, plants of the new             Osteospermum flower continuously from spring to late summer;             early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about six to             eight weeks after pinching.         -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences of plants of the new             Osteospermum last about two to three weeks on the plant;             inflorescences not persistent.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About             1.2 cm. Shape: Broadly elliptic. Color: Close to 137C;             towards the apex, close to 154A.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: Large, about 8.3 cm. Depth             (height): About 2.2 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.8 cm.             Receptacle diameter: About 3 mm. Receptacle height: About 3             mm.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 26 arranged in about two whorls. Length: About 4.5 cm.             Width: About 9 mm. Shape: Oblanceolate; slightly reflexing.             Apex: Emarginate to shallowly praemorse. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Pubescent; moderately glossy. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 163A and 167A; towards the base, close to             187B. When opening, lower surface: Close to 161A; towards             the basal margins, tinged with close to 183C to 183D;             venation, close to N199B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 167A, 170A and 171B; towards the base, close to 187D;             with development, main color becoming closer to 167B and             towards the base, slightly lighter than 187D. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 165B; towards the base, tinged with             close to 181A; venation, close to 166A.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 130 spirally arranged in numerous whorls at the center             of the receptacle. Length: About 1 cm. Diameter, apex: About             3.5 mm. Diameter, base: About 1 mm. Shape: Tubular; apex             dentate, five-pointed. Texture and luster, inner surface:             Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, outer surface:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, immature: Apex: Close to             203C. Mid-section and base: Close to 157A. Color, mature:             Apex: Close to 202A. Mid-section and base: Close to 154D.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 24 arranged in about two whorls. Length: About 1 cm.             Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Narrowly acute.             Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper surface:             Close to 138B to 138C. Color, lower surface: Close to 143B;             margins, close to 144B.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 7.9 cm.             Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 2 mm. Strength: Strong.             Aspect, terminal peduncles: Mostly upright. Texture:             Moderately pubescent. Color: Close to 143A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity per floret: About five. Filament length:             About 2 mm. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther length: About             2.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 202A. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Present on             both ray and disc florets. Pistil length: About 5 mm. Stigma             shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to N186B. Style             length: About 2.5 mm. Style color: Close to N186C. Ovary             color: Close to 145D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been             observed on plants of the new Osteospermum. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have not     been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Osteospermum plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have been     observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind,     high temperatures about 40° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness     Zone 9. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Osteospermum plant named ‘SUNOST1501’ as illustrated and described. 